Arthur c



A. C. MASON,

TRACTOR.

APPLICATlON FILED MAR. 22, 1920.

1,354,672. Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Q 51mm v1 for v Arthur C. Mason Ul l ozuelJ b 7 if M 9 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR G. MASON, F FLILTT, MIGEIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORA-TION, OF DETROIT, IVZIGZZIIGAN, CQRPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct; 1920.

Application filed March 22, 1320. Serial No. 367,936.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. MASON, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Flint, Genesee county, State of Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Tractors, of which the followingis a specification.

The present invention relates to tractors and other self propelledvehicles or apparatus, its objects being to provide a strong andinexpensive mounting for the frame upon the front axle, to reduce thecost of the front end construction of the frame, and

to support the radiator in such manner as to provide increased radiatingarea without increasing the height or width.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view showing a preferred embodimentof the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing therelation of the radiator support, the lower header, and the crankinglever.

The front wheels which may be of any desired construction are attachedto the front axle 2 in the usual way. The frame of the vehicle is madeup primarily from the engine casing (which comprises the upper section 4and the lower section 5 bolted thereto) and a transmission casing, notshown, that extends back to the rear axle; and the crankshaft 6 iscarried at its forward end in a suitable bearing 7 and projectstherefrom as indicated at 8 to receive the gear 9 which may be utilizedto drive a second gear 10 for driving a magneto or other element.

The engine casing might of course extend forward to envelop these gears,but in order to simplify the casting operation it is preferred to employfor this purpose a separate ring or block-like element 12 bolted to theremainder of the casing as indicated at 13, and also to form the closureor cover 14 for the front end of the gear chamber separate from theelement 12 and integral with a forwardly extending shelf or radiatorsupport 15 having a depending flange 16 spaced from the element 12sufiiciently to receive the axle 2. By forming suitable bearings in theparts 1216 for a pin 18 which passes through a bushing 19 in the axleand is held in place by a cotter pin, astrong and readily assembledpivotal connection is made.

Keyed on the projecting end portion 8 of the crank shaft, forwardly ofthe cover 14, is a fan pulley 20 and forwardly of the latter the shafthas secured thereto suitable clutch jaws 21 adapted to be engaged by acorresponding pin 22 on the end of the cranking shaft 23. As bestindicated in Fig. 8, the shaft 23 is mounted to slide rear'wardly and toturn in a bearing 24 formed with and extending through the lower sectionor header 25 of the radiator, a spring 26 normally holding the shaft atthe forward limit of its movement. Thus the shelf 15 may be positionedbelow the crank shaft, thereby affording additional radiator spacewithout increasing the height.

It will be evident that the actual construction of the several detailsinvolved may be varied considerably and to some extent regardless of oneanother without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim 1- l. A self propelled vehicle comprising a frame including anengine casing construction embodying a radiator support having adownward extension, and a front axle piv oted to swing verticallybetween said extension and a portion of said casing adja-,

cent to but separate from said support.

2. A self propelled vehicle comprising a frame including an enginecasing construction embodying a detachable radiator support having adownward extension, a front axle positioned between said extension andthe remainder of said casing construction and a pivot passing throughthe axle and having its ends received in said extension and in theremainder of said casing construction.

3. A self propelled vehicle comprising a frame including an enginecasing construction embodying a detachable gear housing and a detachableradiator support that forms a front cover therefor, said support havinga downward extension, and a front axle positioned between said gearhousing and said extension, and pivoted to swing vertically in respectto said frame.

4. A self propelled vehicle comprising a frame including an enginecasing, a cover for the front end of said casing having a downwardextension spaced from the adjoining portion of said frame, a front axlereceived between said extension and said adjoining portion and connectedthereto for vertical swinging movement.

5. In a self propelled vehicle, an internal combustion engine casinghaving a detachable cover at its front end, a radiator for the enginemounted on said cover, and a cranking shaft for said engine passingthrough said radiator.

6. In a self propelled vehicle, an engine includin a casing having adetachable cover at its front end, said cover having a forward extensionforming a radiator support, a radiator mounted on said extension, saidradiator including a lower header, and a cranking shaft for said enginepassing through said header.

7. In a self propelled vehicle, an engine including a casing having adetachable cover at its front end, said cover having a forward extensionforming a radiator support, a radiator mounted on said extension, saidradiator including a loWerheader, a cranking shaft for said engine, partof said header being at a lower level than the cranking shaft.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ARTHUR C. MASON.

